Here is today's summary of economic development news, a free service of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, representing Alabama's private sector investment in economic development. If you enjoy NewsFlash, thank an
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In a sign of shifting investment caused by China's new ban on imported plastic scrap, a Shanghai-based plastics company is setting up a factory in Alabama to process recyclables and then export clean material to Asia.

Roy Tech Environ Inc. is investing several million dollars in the new facility, in Grant, Ala., near Huntsville, and plans to start operations in the next three months, said CEO Lily Zhang, in a Feb. 15 statement.

"We are redirecting our business strategy," she said, adding that the company will keep its existing recycling plant in China but have "limited operations" there.

Four Alabama chefs, two restaurants and one bar have made the James Beard Foundation's preliminary list of semifinalists for its 2018 culinary awards.

The Beard Foundation's restaurant and chef semifinalists were announced this morning.

Birmingham's
Highlands Bar and Grill is a semifinalist for the country's most outstanding restaurant for the 10
th consecutive year. In each of the previous nine years, Highlands has gone on to be a finalist for the top restaurant award but has yet to win.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - The leader of the nation's premier manufacturing trade group visited Birmingham's
Altec Inc. today to provide company leaders and key Alabama officials with a high-level briefing on the industry's outlook.

During the meeting, Altec Chairman and CEO Lee Styslinger III moderated a discussion that included Timmons and other NAM officials and Altec executives. Also included were Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, and Bill Canary, president of the Business Council of Alabama.

More than two decades ago, when Mercedes-Benz U.S. International proclaimed Alabama winner of the bid for its SUV production, the state celebrated a victory that opened the doors to the auto industry in the South.

What might have seemed like a gamble on a new region of the country has proved the wise investment it always was. And the company doubled down on that commitment - tripled down really - with two announcements in September.

The auto line that made Alabama a name in the car game will now take the state to the next level, with a $1 billion investment to expand the Tuscaloosa plant to accommodate assembly of battery-powered vehicles.

Topics will include business and economic outlooks for 2018 in relation to Alabama and Germany and the new tax reform passed the end of last year, specifically how it will affect German citizens and companies in the U.S.